Realm: Philosophizing – Subrealm: In verse

[choco_frosh]

Ode to the Eph Card : belated birthday-gift to Sovay,
and commentary on Konstanz, and on my college. Hw-

Æt Williams there’s a worthy thing--wise he who thought of it!--
a card that’s a key to dorms and to doors
to classrooms, catacombs, computer clusters.
At the Snack bar you’ll see it: points you put on it
to purchase potatoes (fried) or popcorn, at all odd hours.
In the dining halls (like driscoll), dinner is easy:
With a swipe in a reader you’ll receive much salad
or tasty turnovers, or turkey (though not tuna melts:
they’re not utterly quality), in unlimited quantities!
Laundry is laughable: no counting of coins--
points put on a card purchase pearly-white cleansing,
likewise pepsi, or photocopies, and I think also printing.
You’ll use it in libraries, loaning out books,
and your photo is fair to see for reduced rates.
The Eph Card is excellent: exultet terra!

But at Konstanz? Kein ähnliches: no card is comparable.
Studentenausweis und Studiticket sind ganz separat;
Your Mensakart’s for meals, in the many-colored hall,
and Photocopies furnish a card that’s compatible
for that only (And printing). The CIP pools
close with crepusculum: no card gives you access
to computers at night. And you know that at need
you’ll want Euro at washingmachines; and wish that you
could locate your Schlüsseln: your dorm is geschlossen!
And your wallet is weighty and wide with the many
cards you must carry here. ’s kann’ ich nicht glauben!

Comments

[sovay]

You rock.

Yeah.

[(Anonymous)]

Now if only you could think of, and apply for, a job that combines Alpine hiking, brewing beer, hawking, architectural history, and writing the alliterative long line.

- grace, restored to cyberspace